Bohuslava Kecková facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bohuslava Kecková
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| Born |
Bohuslava Josefa Kecková
18 March 1854 Bukol, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary
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| Died | 17 October 1911 (aged 57) Kostomlaty nad Labem, Austria-Hungary
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| Nationality | Austrian |
| Other names | Bohuslava Keck |
| Occupation | physician |
| Years active | 1880–1911 |
Bohuslava Kecková (born March 18, 1854 – died October 17, 1911) was a brave and pioneering doctor from Bohemia. She made history by becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree in what is now the Czech Republic. Even though it was very hard for women to get an education back then, she worked hard to achieve her dreams. She faced many challenges, including not being allowed to practice medicine in her home country at first. Later, she became a doctor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she helped many women and taught them about health.
Early Life and Education
Bohuslava Josefa Kecková was born on March 18, 1854. Her family lived in a place called Bukol, which is now part of Vojkovice in Bohemia. Her father worked in publishing and construction. When she was young, her family moved to Karlín, a town near Prague.
Bohuslava was a very bright student. In 1870, she graduated with honors from the Girl's High School of Prague. Because she was so good at her studies, she got special permission to attend a regular high school, called a gymnasium. This was a big deal because women were not usually allowed to attend these schools. On July 24, 1874, she became the first woman to earn a high school diploma in the Czech lands.
Bohuslava wanted to study medicine, but women were not allowed to study medicine in Bohemia at that time. So, in October 1874, she moved to Zürich, Switzerland, to study at the University of Zurich. Another Czech woman, Anna Bayerová, joined her there in 1875.
In her last year of studies, Bohuslava worked as an assistant at the women's clinic at the University Hospital of Zürich. She graduated on August 4, 1880. This made her the first woman of Czech heritage to become a doctor! Her graduation thesis was about throat and neck surgery.
Bohuslava wanted to return to Prague and open her own medical practice. However, her medical degree from Switzerland was not accepted in Austria-Hungary. She tried for two years to get permission to work as a doctor, but she was denied. Even a professor from the Medical Faculty in Prague tried to help her, but it didn't work. She even appealed to the highest court, but her request was rejected because women were not allowed to get doctorates in Austria. Since she couldn't work as a doctor in her home country, Bohuslava decided to go back to school. She studied midwifery (helping women give birth) and gynecology (women's health) at the University of Vienna.
Medical Career
After finishing her new studies, Bohuslava Kecková returned to Karlín in 1883. She opened a practice as a midwife. Her practice grew quickly, and she helped women from all walks of life. Eventually, she moved her practice to Prague.
After working as a midwife for almost ten years, a new opportunity arose in 1892. The government was looking for two women doctors to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was because, due to cultural reasons, male doctors were not allowed to touch Muslim women. Bohuslava was chosen for one of these positions and was sent to Mostar. Another doctor from Poland, Teodora Krajewska, was sent to Tuzla.
Bohuslava arrived in Mostar on January 11, 1893. At first, some local people were unsure about a woman doctor. But she successfully treated the wife of a local Muslim leader, and soon, more and more people trusted her. She found that conditions in Bosnia were very different from what she was used to. Women often lived in seclusion and had little access to education about hygiene or healthy eating.
Bohuslava didn't just treat sick people; she also taught them about health. She wrote articles for newspapers back in Bohemia, describing her work. She traveled by train, horse, and even walked to reach her patients. She gave vaccinations and educational talks. She also collected important information about the local population, including their customs, diet, and lifestyle. She hoped this information would help reduce stereotypes and lead to better education and health for everyone.
In 1896, her temporary position was made permanent. In 1900, she also started teaching health classes at the Girl's High School of Mostar. Her classes covered topics like anatomy and practical nursing. She wrote articles in Croatian, which appeared in Bohemian women's magazines. These articles discussed important health topics like nutrition and tuberculosis.
Later Life and Legacy
As she got older, Bohuslava Kecková faced some health problems, including diabetes. She often traveled to Karlovy Vary to rest and recover. On one of these trips, she decided to visit her sister in Kostomlaty nad Labem. She passed away there on October 17, 1911.
Bohuslava Kecková left an important legacy. She broke barriers for women in medicine and dedicated her life to helping others, especially in areas where medical care was hard to access. She showed that with determination, women could achieve great things and make a real difference in the world.
